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Writing Momentum · 17 August 2024


When I wrote about not being in a funk, I mentioned momentum. Then, I completely ignored the thought. So I thought I would come back to it.


Momentum is a strange thing. It is also a simple thing. Both in physics and in life.


Momentum is merely mass times velocity in physics. At least mathematically. And it is just the mathematical expression of Newton’s first law. A body at rest tends to stay at rest and body in motion tends to stay in motion unless it is acted upon by an outside force. The unless part applies to both the body at rest and the body in motion. Pretty simple.


Momentum also applies to real life. Both in the Newtonian sense and in the abstract sense. And since it applies to life, it applies to writing. (Perhaps you thought I would never get there.)


Most people think of momentum or inertia when they think of motion. (I suppose that is why they call them Newton’s Laws of Motion.) But momentum applies to non-motion too. Think about it. When you are at rest, you want to stay at rest. It is tough to get out of that bed or chair. Especially if said chair is a recliner. I know it is a state of mind more than a state of body in this case, but it is still momentum. We must force ourselves to get moving.


The same is true for writing. When we are not writing very often, it is tough to get to that piece we were working on. It is so easy to agree with Scarlett O’Hara and just say, “After all, tomorrow is another day.” So we do not keep the momentum going by writing day after day after day. Which is the key really. To be a writer, you must write each day. Week after week, month after month, year after year. They do add up. And as the days add up, you will have the blog posts and books to show for it. You see, when you have momentum, you do not need to do much to keep going.


In physics, the thing you need to overcome to keep the momentum up is friction. I suppose that is true in life too. Something comes up to mess up your writing routine. Friction. Something happens to your relationships to mess up your writing routine. Friction. (In more ways than one.) Yes. Life is full of all sorts of friction. Which is why you need to keep adding energy to your writing train to keep it in motion. To keep its momentum up.


Which is one of the coolest things to experience.


I have had many moments in writing when I have lots of momentum. Idea after idea comes into my head. For blog posts, for books, even for poetry and song. That is the sweet spot. Just keep writing and the ideas keep flowing. Just keep the ideas coming and the writing keeps flowing. It is a process that feeds on itself. On its own momentum. Woo woo! Keep that train movin’. Keep that momentum going.



The thing about writing momentum is that it can even push through writing funks. I suppose it is like a plow at the front of that train plowing through the snow on the tracks. Keep up the head of steam and the snow is no match for the momentum. Words keep flowing. Woo woo!


Well, that is about all that I have to say about writing and momentum. And trains. At least for today. I hope that you are able to keep up your momentum by writing or doing whatever you need to be doing every day.

© 2024 Michael T. Miyoshi

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